Cup Day crowds confirmed
The Victorian State Government has confirmed that crowds are certain for Melbourne Cup Day and highly likely for the final two days of the carnival.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Sunday that a Melbourne Cup crowd of 10,000 has been "guaranteed" and will mark a time in the COVID-19 fight where Victoria will "send a message to the rest of the country and indeed the world about the fact that we are open".
"The Melbourne Cup crowd is a guaranteed crowd - it is part of a trial. We would hope we would have then, by that stage, have passed 80 per cent double dose and we can at that point confirm that the last two events of the Melbourne Cup Carnival – Oaks Day and Stakes Day – will also have crowds up 10,000 people," he said.
Andrews confirmed that no crowds would be permitted to attend the first of the VRC's four days at Flemington – Victoria Derby Day on October 30.
"Racing fans will be spread across a number of zones at Flemington in allocated seats and will be required to wear masks and be fully vaccinated or holding a valid exemption."
VRC chief executive Steve Rosich said the club would liaise with the government over the coming days before providing further clarity to its members, partners and industry stakeholders including thoroughbred owners.
“We are ready to host a COVID-safe event with crowds across three days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival that utilises our numerous hospitality venues and expansive grounds, marking a major step in the reopening of our city and the state of Victoria,” Rosich said.
Cox Plate call soon for Anamoe
Trainer James Cummings has confirmed a decision on whether G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) runs in the G1 Cox Plate will be made in the coming days.
"He’s well and truly the type of horse that you dream about saddling up as a 3-year-old in a Cox Plate," Cummings told RSN's Correct Weight program on Sunday.
"We’ll probably decide by tomorrow but importantly, we’ll put him first."
Anamoe | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The defeat of Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in Saturday's G1 Might And Power S. has opened up the Cox Plate considerably.
Oliver makes Cup call on Delphi
Damien Oliver will ride the lightest he has in more than a decade when he partners Delphi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in Saturday's G1 Caulfield Cup.
The 5-year-old has recovered well from his win in the G2 Herbert Power S. and will take his place in the race with permission sought from stewards for Oliver to ride the 5-year-old half a kilogram over his handicap of 52.5kg.
Oliver said on Saturday that he rated the import's prospects highly.
"I think he will give it (the Caulfield Cup) a shake because he can put himself up on the pace, he's got no weight and he can sustain a gallop," Oliver said.
"When you get horses in good form out of this race, you've got to really consider them."
Okami Miss bounces back
Okami Miss (Shalaa {Ire}) bounced back from her recent luckless 10th in the G3 Gimcrack S. to break her maiden at Hawkesbury,
The Clarry Conners-trained filly charged home to win by 0.25l over One Destiny (Super One), who was 11th in the G3 Breeders' Plate with Kobenhavn (I Am Invincible) in third.
Okami Miss was a $60,000 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale purchase from the Bell River Thoroughbreds draft for Samuel Robinson. She is out of She’s Our Choice (Duporth), a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner and champion First Season Sire Extreme Choice.
Last-minute Guineas Raider
Barb Raider (Rebel Raider) is set to contest Wednesday’s G1 Thousand Guineas with connections to pay a late entry fee on Monday morning.
Trainer Jerome Hunter told Racing.com that connections were strongly considering paying the $27,500 late entry fee to include the Rebel Raider filly in the $1 million race.
"We are looking at it," Hunter said. "We’ve just got to weigh up everything but from what we’ve seen, we’ll most likely go that way."
"The Oaks is probably the number one aim but things change as you go along and fields can drop away and it seems with no standout filly his year, the race (Guineas) might not be that strong," he said.
"She certainly has been in form. Even the way she won last start, she had that really good kick.
"We know she can run 1600 and 1800 metres and she’s got this good kick over those two distances. It’s not like she’s a grinding horse that needs more ground."
Fox chasing spring riches
Multiple stakes winner Signore Fox (Exceed And Excel) is set to resume Saturday in the G3 Sydney S. at Randwick.
Peter and Paul Snowden have resisted the temptation of chasing a berth in the $15 million The TAB Everest, instead targeting other rich events during the spring carnival.
Signore Fox | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“We could have run him in the Premiere last week (October 2), we even thought about trialling him again last Friday but didn’t think we needed to so he’s done plenty of work,” Paul Snowden told Racenet.
“He’ll run in the Sydney S. on Saturday and then he’ll go Classique Legend and The Hunter if he’s going well enough.
“They are big dollar races for a horse like him.”
Freedman looking to skies with Zouzarella
Co-trainer Sam Freedman is hoping for rain to boost the chances of leading G1 Thousand Guineas hope Zouzarella (Zoustar).
Current outright favourite for the race, Zouzarella, a winner of two of her three starts, excelled in the soft conditions of the Listed Atlantic Jewel S. two starts back.
“It‘s going to be a hard race,” Freedman told Punters.com.au. “There’s a few going there in good form.
“A bit of rain around wouldn’t hurt her either. She’s performed well on soft, she’s in good form.
Zouzarella as a yearling
“She probably has been (the benchmark filly) but they‘ve been improving at different rates.
“Some fillies get better as they get over further and we‘re hopeful that she is one of them.”
First winner for Prince
South Island-based stallion Prince Of Brooklyn, who stands at Grassyards Farm, sired his first winner on Sunday from his first runner when the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Brooklyn Boss (NZ) won on debut at Ballarat.
The 3-year-old gelding is from the first crop of the son of Magnus who commenced stud duties at Grassyards Farm back in 2017.
Australian-based part-owner Chris Marks also bred and part owns the sire, who won three times including the G3 National S. at Morphettville on debut.
Mana Nui to race on for Ormsby
Promising 3-year-colt Mana Nui (NZ) (No Nay Never {USA}) will contest the G2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial S. at Te Rapa on October 25 after his potential sale fell through.
The Chad Ormsby-trained G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas winner had been under offer to clients of the Michael and Richard Freedman stable in Australia, but an issue with shin soreness that cropped up during the vetting process early last week saw the offer withdrawn.
Mana Nui | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Owner and breeder Tony Rider, who was set to retain a share in the colt if the sale had gone ahead, will now concentrate on getting Mana Nui to Australia for future spring targets under his own steam.
“We had him sold subject to his x-rays, however a complication cropped up as he was a touch shin sore when he was going through the process,” Rider said.
“His x-rays were passable, but as he had jarred up after his Hastings win, it showed up and that saw the offer withdrawn on him.
Tony Rider | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“When we were informed of the development, I had a good chat with Chad and we decided to put him aside for a spell.
“When he got back to Chad’s stable on Friday he looked as good as gold, so he gave him a run along and he was fine.
“We’ve sent him out to Lyndhurst Farm to spend a few days on the water walker and then he will go to the Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa on the Monday of Labour weekend.”
